Josee johnson



AoniTin) sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.-

JOSEE JOHNSON, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

INDEX OR BOOK-MARKER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,759, dated October 12, 1858.

To all izo/wm 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEE JOHNSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improven ment in Indexes or Markers for Indicating Particular Lines in Books; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l, represents the fiat plate from which the index clasp is formed, before being bent at the middle to embrace a book or other leaf. Fig. 2, is a View of the same when bent. Fig. 3, represents the index clasp or marker applied to a leaf. Fig. 4:, is a section of ditto.

Similar letters in the figures refer to corresponding parts.

This invention consists in so forming the extremities of a thin strip of metal (bent together at or near its center so as to cause one of its bent parts to overlap the other) as to enable the terminating portion of one point as an indicator or marker while the other extends at an acute angle, more or less, therefrom, in such a manner as to form an index or marker, which is easily attached to the edge of a sheet of paper, and capable of being raised and lowered over the same, and retained at any desired point to indicate a line, letter or figure.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

This index or marker A, is formed of a thin fiat strip of brass or other metal, cut at one of its ends in the form of a human hand and wrist, with the three lower fingers and thumb closed and the first finger B, distended and pointing at or near a horizontal line and cut at the opposite end in the form of a human foot C, distended from its natu ral position to the ankle and leg, so as to form an obtuse angle more or less therewith. The metal strip with these configurations or others such as a hand and heart, a head and tail of a fish, or other analogous forms, which produce any distinguishing configuration, forming the pointer B, at one end, and an acute, more or less, angular termination C, at the other, is bent together at or near its center, so as to cause one of its ends to lie fiat upon the other, and the lower edge of the finger B, and sole O, of the foot to lbe brought in such relation to each other as to form an acute angle therewith, so as to admit the edge of the sheet of paper between them.

Then it is desired to attach this index clasp to the edge of a sheet of paper, the clasp is slightly turned with its edge inclined toward a vertical position, thus receiving the paper between the finger and the foot, which, because of the angle formed between them, allows the clasp readily to catch the leaf. And the clasp is slightly turned so as to cause one side of the edge of the sheet to press against the linger portion B, and the opposite side to press against the foot portion C, and in this manner to open the extremities of the index clasp, and enable them to be pressed inward until the edge of the sheet of paper between them, comes flush with the bent portion of the index Clamp.

The ends of the index clasp or marker are elastic, and embrace the sheet to which they are thus attached, with the required force to retain the index or marker at any desired point on the edge of the sheet, but not so much as would prevent it being moved freely up and down, by the fore finger and thumb, so as to bring the finger pointer at any line on the page to indicate a line, figure, or letter, to which future reference may be required.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

The clasp A made of one piece of metal with the angle between its points for receiving the leaf while the clasp is applied in a vertical position or nearly so, and opening to receive the leaf as it is pressed against its edge, and firmly grasping the leaf when applied, operating as described and for the purposes set forth.

J OSEE JOHNSON.

Witnesses J. D. BUCKLEY, MICH HUGH. 

